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Our Mission: Christ for Native Youth seeks to be part of what God is doing in Native American, and to equip and encourage “great commission” youth ministry.
Our Vision: to see every young person in Native America embrace the life changing message of Jesus Christ.
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We are committed to:
· Seeing young people walk with Jesus.
· Equipping the Native Christian Church in their discipleship programs.
· Encouraging prayer - for and by native young people.
· Sending native youth and servants into the world as followers of Jesus.
· Seeing Native American’s take their place in God’s kingdom. |
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Native Americans are often referred to as a forgotten and hidden people – we have been focusing on the native youth because 50% of them are under age 20 – and less than all native people claim to know Jesus as their savior.
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The Need:
As European settlers “discovered” the Americas the combination of wars, death, disease, starvation and forced relocation of Indian tribes to reservations through the mid-1800s nearly wiped out their numbers, spirit, health, way of life, and interest in the “white man’s religion”.
Native Americans are sometimes described as the hidden and forgotten people. Today, the population is gaining ground: 2000 US Census figures report that 4.1 million people claim Native American heritage. At least one half of the Indian population is under the age of 18. Today there are 545 federally recognized North American Indian tribes. Today over 60% of the population live in US cities, while the other half still live on “Reservations”. The largest Indian reservation is the Navajo reservation, which is about the size of West Virginia and extends into three states (Arizona, Utah and New Mexico). The smallest is the Gold Hill Reservation in Connecticut, which sits on a mere one-third of an acre.
Native people are besieged by many alarming challenges. According to the First American Freedom Foundation, the incidences of suicide is five times greater among Native Americans than any other ethnic group, and Native American teen suicides are triple the national average. Alcoholism affects 75 percent of households, and virtually all families. Today, the average life expectancy for Native American men is only 40.9 years, for Native American women, 46 years. The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory says that Native American students feel disconnected from mainstream America and drop out of school at the highest reported rate of any cultural group—36 percent.
According to statistics from the US Census of 1990, “Native Americans are the most poverty-stricken in this nation; 60% of all Indian households earn less than $20,000 per year; 40% of Indians with households of four make less than $10,000. In 1980, 27% were below the poverty level; in 1990 there were 31% below the poverty level.”
Finally, it is generally reported that less than 10% of Native Americans profess to be “born again” Christians. Statistics would be much less among Native Youth.
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How we began:
Back in 1992, a small group of unsuspecting people came together with shared vision, passion, broken hearts and willing hands, to see the young people on the Navajo Reservation find the abundant life that Jesus promised. An historic evangelistic project, (Youth Quake) opened the door for much more than any had imagined – and has provided for what we pray - will be part of a movement of God throughout Native America.
Today, we continue to pray and seek the leading of the Lord as we work together in partnership with others to encourage great commission youth ministry, and discipleship among Native American youth. With a fresh sense of God’s blessing, shared vision and love for native young people, this small troop continued to pray and strategize ways of effectively reaching and mentoring young people throughout Native America.
As young leaders began to share similar stories and vision for what “could” be, similar themes and ideas emerged. Many were passionate about sending local Reservation young people into mission, rather than just being receivers of short-term mission projects. The principle of Native Youth reaching Native Youth was realized with emphasis on “unity” (John 17) in working together with respect for solid biblical foundation.
This network has continued to grow and seen God’s hand of blessings in many ways since our beginning in 1992. Some of the milestones are:
March 1992 - First Youth Quake – (as part of an anniversary for KHAC radio station in Window Rock, AZ.)
Summer 1992 First MAD (make a difference) Camp and Navajo & Hopi Reservation outreaches begin
1993- 1996 Periodic Youth Quakes begin in various locations throughout the Southwest
Summer 1993 MAD (make a difference) Camp and southwest teams continue, and begin going to Canada
1993 - Begin hosting Youth Leader training events
1994 - The Name “Christ for Native Youth” is adopted.
1994 - CNY launches a Bible Quiz League - 12 teams in the first year!
1994 - A partnership with Rich Mullins develops
1995 - CNY organizes into a State Corporation with oversight from Western Indian Ministries
1995 CNY sends first “Side by Side” teams across country.
1996 - CNY is invited to host a “Youth Leadership Track” at “Atlanta 96 with the National Network of Youth Ministries
1997 The plans for a Native Youth Ministry Network are birthed.
1996 - CNY hosts the first “Native American Christian Youth Conference” (Trail of Hope) in Albuquerque NM
1997 - CNY becomes an independent organization and obtains “non profit status” with the IRS. First full time staff
1998 - Second national conference – Trail of Hope in Durango Colorado
1999 - CNY moves offices from Window Rock, AZ to Albuquerque, NM
2000 - CNY Joins forces with North America Indian Ministries (Vancouver Canada)
2001 - A youth ministry network is formed in Mexico
2002 - First full time Native American youth intern is based in Mexico
2004 - Third international youth conference “Trail of Hope” is held in Colorado Springs
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